Wire supporting and joining fixture



Feb. 24, 1942. w. J. HILL ET A; 2,274,411

WIRE SUPPORTING AND JOINING FIXTURE Filed Dec. 21, 1940 I NI/ENTORS W J. H/LL H. F STOVR 6% %(ac%M 4 )47' TORNEV Patented Feb. 24, 1942 WIRE SUPPORTING AND JOINING FIXTURE Walter J. Hill, Long Island City, and Herbert F.

Stover, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a. corporation of New York Application Decemberzl, 1940, Serial No. 371,114 2 Claims. (c1. 248-2205) This invention relates to wire supports and more particularly topole fixtures for supporting a messenger strand from which is suspended an aerial cable.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fixture for supporting and connecting together the ends of two messenger or supporting strands in such a manner that in the event of a failure of the fixture the ends of the strands will remain interlocked and connected together.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device for supporting and connecting together the ends of two messengers or supporting strands which will provide a large radius for the bends in the strand, a maximum amount of bearing surface for the strand, and distribute any unbalanced tension in the strand evenly over the bearing surface of the supporting fixture.

In the present types of 'pole fixtures for supporting messenger or supporting strands, the strand either passes through a clamping device and is secured therein by two opposing members,

or a. loop is formed in the ends of the strand and then one or both ends of the loops are positioned through the eye of a bolt or some other similar securing member. Thus it is apparent, should the clamp or support fail, the ends of the strands would become detached from the supporting pole and the cable would fall or be unsupported over a considerable length.

In applicants improved fixture for supporting messenger strands, the ends of the supporting strand are so positioned and secured to the fixture that, should a failure occur in the fixture, the continuity of the strand would not be bro-ken inasmuch as the structure of the fixture permits the loops, located on the ends of the strands to interlock with each other, thereby providing a continuous unbroken messenger or supporting strand.

In accordance with the preferred form of this invention there is provided an arcuate-shaped base member having a contour to fit the surface of a standard telephone pole, a spindle having two interlacing spiral grooves, cast integral with the base, and with a guard member at its top portion for preventing the loops of the strand from becoming displaced. An aperture through the center'of the spindle, having a recessed portion for the head of the bolt, is provided in the spindle for securing the fixture to the pole.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention in its preferred embodiment in which:

porting the joined ends of a messenger strand to which is secured an aerial cable;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the fixture shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the fixture shown in Fig. 2. As shown in the drawing above referred to, the fixture of this invention comprises an arcuate base member II], the back which is curved to fit the contour of the pole l I to which it is intended to be secured. Integral with the base I0 and projecting outwardly at right angles therefrom is a spindle l2. This spindle is provided with spiral grooves l3 and M which are adapted to receive the loops l5 and I6 of the supporting sections of strands l1 and [8. The loops l5 and I6 are formed by passing the ends of the strands I1 and [8 under the guard ill from opposite sides thereof, bending them around the spindle and positioning them in the grooves l3 and I4 and then bending them back upon' themselves and securing them to the main portion of the strand by means of the clamping members 20 and 2|, as shown in Fig. 1. In order that the fixture may be secured to the pole II a bolt 22 passes through the aperture 23 in the center of the spindle I2. As shown more in detail in Figs. 2 and 3, the grooves I3 and M, on the spindle I2, are so constructed that the loops [5 and I6 of the strands I1 and I8, when positioned therein, interlock without contacting each other. This novel construction causes the loops l5 and IE to interlock somewhat in the manner of the links of a chain, so that in the event of a failure of the fixture due to its becoming loose or the breakage of thespindle l2, the ends of the strands I1 and IB will still be connected together, although unsupported at the pole. It is, therefore, apparent that due to the structure of the fixture of this invention, the continuity of the strand will not be broken, thereby eliminating damage to the Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a fragment of a pole with the fixture of this invention supsupported cable.

In Fig. 1 which shows one adaptation of this invention, the fixture is shown supporting and securing together the ends of the strands I1 and I8 to which is secured an aerial cable 24. It will be noted that the cable is secured to the strands I! and I8 by means of wires 25 and 26 lashed therearound. However, the fixture of this invention is ,not limited to use with lashed cable construction, but may be used whereever it is necessary to support a cable by means of a supporting strand, or, in fact, any place where it is desired to join the ends of a wire or strand together on a pole or some other similar support.

In the example shown in Fig. 1 it has been found that if straps 21 and 28 are passed around the cable 24 and strands l1 and I8, and used to terminate the lashing wires 25 and 26, that a very sturdy and satisfactory type of installation is accomplished. It has also been found that if the lay of the lashing wire is varied as it nears the fixture and a suitable spacer of some soft material, such as lead, is placed between the strand and cable adjacent to the straps that abrasion of the cable sheath will be materially reduced.

As shown in Fig. 1 a strap 29 may be secured to the fixture to provide an additional support for the cable at the pole.

It will be noted that with the use of this fixture the cutting of a gain in the pole is entirely eliminated as the curved flanges of the fixture form a lateral brace against sideway movement in either direction.

We do not limit ourselves to any specific type of fixture and it is obvious that many modifications and changes may be made therein by those skilled in the art and that we are only to be limited by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fixture for supporting and connecting the looped ends of wires, or the like, which comprises a base member, a spindle extending from said base, said spindle having interlacing spiral grooves therein for the reception and interlocking of said loops, and means passing through said spindle and said base for securing said fixture to a suitable support.

2. A fixture for supporting and connecting together the looped ends of wires, or the like, which comprises a base member, a hollow spindle integral with said base member and extending at right angles therefrom, said spindle having interlacing spiral grooves in the surface thereof for the reception and interlocking of the loops of said wire and means passing through the hollow portion of said spindle and through said base member for securing said fixture to a suitable support, and a guard member integral with the end of said spindle and said base at the top thereof to prevent the displacement of said loops.

. WALTER J. HILL.

HERBERT F. STOVER. 

